Teletherapy for Portland, OR

While I treat a wide variety of psychological disorders, I also specialize in working with individuals and couples who are experiencing pre- and post-natal mood and anxiety disorders. Getting pregnant, giving birth, and raising a child are all stressful experiences and depression and anxiety are actually quite common. My goal is to assist clients in learning how to manage stress, and provide clients with emotional support and the right skills to help clients and/or their partners thrive.

Our lives are not linear, we go through so many big transitions that we sometimes find ourselves feeling a bit adrift. I specialize in working with new mothers navigating the perinatal phase of mental health, which can often throw a curveball we weren’t expecting. There’s no such thing as too much support postpartum, and I’m happy to be part of your team. I care deeply about my clients and want you to feel seen, heard, and understood. If you have found your way to me, I am honored to support you as you navigate your way through the challenges you’re currently facing.

I provide evidence-based treatment for children, and teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ages 2-14, and coaching to parents and teachers working with children on the spectrum. I have 20 years of experience working directly with children building communication, play, social, and academic skills. I also work with other therapists whom I oversee and consult. I am open to collaborate with other professionals and consult on any concerns related to ASD. We have immediate openings for children 2-5 who can be seen during the day.

I believe that each individual has the potential to reach life satisfaction through self-exploration in therapy. As your therapist, I aspire to help you discover your strengths and navigate challenges within yourself and interpersonal relationships to achieve the fulfillment that everyone strives for. My hope is to support and encourage you towards learning the different parts of who you are and within your relationships so you may feel empowered throughout your life.

While the focus of my training and experience is children and couples/families, I love working with individuals of all ages. I help my clients overcome and manage mental health challenges, issues associated with ASD, grief/trauma, relationship/family conflict, behavioral difficulties, life change, career planning and issues associated with identity. As a former educator, I am particularly skilled at differentiating therapeutic interventions to fit individuals to suit their needs. And, I can help parents advocate for the educational needs of their children and provide social/emotional skills training to children and adults.

Therapy can offer hope in the midst of depression, anxiety, trauma, stressful challenges in work, relationships, health, or other arenas of life. It can also help us respond thoughtfully and creatively rather than anxiously or destructively. I am a firm believer in learning to be open towards yourself, your relationships, and life transitions. This is a more powerful motivator than mentally beating yourself up. We'll work together to identify strengths you can use towards making important life changes, and to build coping skills to deal with difficult emotions, trust, relationship issues, and negative thoughts you might have about yourself.

As of 4/4/24 I am accepting a limited number of new clients for telehealth appointments at the 3pm time slot. Please visit my website (www.embarkcounselingnw.com) to request a free video or phone consultation. I focus on child & adolescent counseling to address a variety of life's issues, including but not limited to: trauma and stress, anxiety, depression, post-adoption and foster care challenges, LGBTQ+ including gender and sexual identity, racial identity, ADHD, academic issues, behavioral challenges and more!

I enjoy working with a wide range of people and specialize in treating teens and young adults. My specialty areas include mood instability, anxiety, depression, issues related to gender identity and sexuality, difficulty launching into adulthood, and maladaptive coping mechanisms including self-harm and impulsive behaviors. I work well with people who are emotionally sensitive, may feel that they don’t belong, and have difficulty maintaining stable relationships. I strive to help people create a life that’s more enjoyable by learning to tolerate painful emotions and have more pleasant experiences.

Focusing on supporting black and brown adolescents, youth adults and families navigate life obstacles while learning and developing skills to increase whole body wellness. I aim to provide an empowering environment for self-discovery, healing, and growth so that you can evolve and thrive. Do you want to process life experiences, unresolved issues, including trauma, grief, loss, illness? Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, or other unwanted emotions?

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS! Offering online therapy & in- office visits. Your child's anxiety and depression may have increased with isolation from friends, adjustment to online schooling, and disruption in schedule. Maybe you're a parent or caregiver who is frustrated with your child/teen's behavior at home? May be you are a parent who is overwhelmed and wants to parent mindfully. May be your child is struggling with anxiety &depression, and you are unsure how to help them and need a holistic approach. You may have noticed your child struggling with self regulation, high anxiety, sadness, anger issues, ADHD, and learning difficulties.

Is your child experiencing behavioral problems that interfere with school, family, or friendships? Is your teen distant, defiant or have mood swings? While facing challenges in childhood is a normal part of growing up, sometimes kids need additional help learning the skills needed to navigate big feelings, worries, upsetting and confusing events and the stressors of modern life. I offer kids an opportunity to learn and practice new skills, a safe space to explore big feelings and can help them learn to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and emotions in a helpful way using creative, and fun approaches and evidence based practices

Now accepting new clients online. I work with adult children, partners and siblings of individuals with Narcissistic and Borderline Personality Disorder traits. It can be difficult to find a therapist who truly understand the impact and wounds of being raised in a home or being in a relationship with someone who has narcissistic and borderline traits. My work includes creating a healthy psychological separation, changing the negative internal messages, learning how to respond to others, creating healthy boundaries, stopping the legacy of distorted love and becoming your true and authentic self.

Are you feeling like your relationships are stressed, disconnected, or just not the same as they used to be? Do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or not like yourself? - Learning how to manage our emotions and communicate effectively can be tricky, but especially with our families and partners. Don't take on the challenge alone, build the skills to manage your mental health effectively with the support of a licensed mental health professional. My intention is to support your healing and guide you towards sustainable goals that will let you feel safe, heard, and connected. Let me help you take the first steps towards growth!

I support my clients to find safety, rest, and joy within themselves, often in the midst of very challenging circumstances. I work with folks healing from trauma – especially childhood, religious, sexual, and relational traumas – those exploring their authentic identities, and those who want support in life transitions large and small. I believe that you are the expert of your own experience. Together we will create a space where you can explore deeper layers of your experience, to understand, and potentially reframe, strategies that no longer serve you, and to take steps towards a richer connection with yourself and others.

I integrate current research and traditional approaches to help clients reduce distress, improve daily functioning, and find fulfillment. Many clients I work with benefit from learning specific skills for stress management and interpersonal effectiveness. Others explore broader issues related to clarifying values and personal growth.

In therapy sessions I work to develop mindfulness skills through art, talk, and interactions with nature. There are opportunities to process difficult experiences and transform feelings of hurt, fear, and anger into dynamic creativity. I have experience working with individuals who are healing from past trauma, coping with medical issues, managing anger, learning to recognize personal strengths, finding ways to connect to their communities, and developing more creative and joyful lives.”

As an experienced adolescent therapist, I am passionate about helping teens and young adults figure out who they are, who they want to be, and the barriers keeping them from realizing these goals. I have assisted hundreds of adolescents through academic challenges, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, substance use, ADHD, traumatic experiences, social anxiety and divorce. We work together to develop healthy ways to manage our emotional life, identify strengths which can support self-confidence and motivation, and learn to trust we are worthy of the love and connection we want in our relationships.

When it is a hard time to be a human, it is exponentially more difficult to be a caregiver. The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Reaching out for support can bring more ease and joy to your relationship with your child (or children). You might be interested in making sense of challenging or confusing behaviors; discipline & confident limit setting; understanding & responding to your child’s crying or tantrums; supporting play, independence & learning; clarifying your values & developing a caregiving approach; setting up a supportive environment; working with your own triggers, and/or carving out time for self care.

Due to ongoing concerns with COVID-19, I am now offering sessions via phone & confidential video platforms. Stay Safe & Connected. Re-discover your natural strength & deep rooted source of power. Give yourself permission to do you. Overcome stress & enjoy your daily challenges. Explore early attachment & its impact on your current self-view. Improve your relationships. Rewrite self-script. Plan your next move while learning to be in this moment. Discover reasons to be holistic. Transform negative energy into creative ability. I am a proponent of healthy eating & exercise as well as setting realistic goals & actionable plans.